Welcome Allison Teng, 26, of Curvy Girl Chic, who is joining us as our resident plus-size style blogger. She was featured in the March issue of PEOPLE StyleWatch and will be contributing regularly to the site. This week, she’s sharing how anyone can wear a tricky-seeming trend — even crop tops!

Courtesy Allison Teng

I get a lot of questions from plus-size girls about how to wear crop tops. The big one is: “How can I wear one without feeling overly exposed?” I’ve found that a good way to ease into this trend is something I like to call a “gateway crop top.”

This one from H&M, which is more chic than sex-kitten, is a perfect example. The boxy shape looks amazing on everyone (plus, I think stripes look so classic and cool!). I also love that it has sleeves and a higher neckline, which reads as sharp and sophisticated, rather than Coachella-bound.

A cropped style that hits right at or just above my natural waistline is one of my favorite styles. I’ll usually pair it with a high-waisted skirt, like I did here, so only a hint of skin is exposed. This leather skirt is from ASOS and it’s one of my favorites! Because I have relatively narrow hips, if I wear stripes or something boxy on top, I can look top-heavy–the full shape and longer length of this skirt helps to balance me out.

I added blue Isaac Mizrahi pumps with bows for a little color and a ladylike touch, and a quirky, cat-shaped H&M crossbody (my boyfriend calls me “the cat lady” when I wear it, but I still love it!) to keep the look from being too serious.

The lesson here? Anybody, regardless of size, can wear a crop top. It’s all about styling it in a way where you feel most confident!

Would you try a crop top? What trends are you afraid to give a shot? Tell us in the comments!